Before (end of 1996) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 14 · Labour 12 · Conservative 9 · Liberal Democrats 7
After (end of 1997) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Other 13 · Labour 12 · Conservative 9 · Liberal Democrats 8
Ward results
Brett1 seat · turnout 76.5%
| M Gleed | Liberal Democrats | 1,583 ✓ |
| P Stevens | Conservative | 1,494 |
| V. Letton | Labour | 771 |
Great Cornard1 seat · turnout 70.4%
| W. Gibson | Labour | 2,752 ✓ |
| B Rayner | Conservative | 1,492 |
Hadleigh1 seat · turnout 74.2%
| D. Grutchfield | Liberal Democrats | 3,022 ✓ |
| V. Chapman | Conservative | 1,015 |
Stour Valley1 seat · turnout 76.8%
| S. Pryor | Conservative | 2,684 ✓ |
| K Watkins | Liberal Democrats | 1,618 |
| G Hulme | Labour | 1,408 |
Sudbury1 seat · turnout 71.8%
| E. Wiles | Labour | 3,127 ✓ |
| J Stewart | Conservative | 2,097 |
| G. Blackman-Sheppard | Liberal Democrats | 1,611 |